Windows 2000 is an extension of Windows NT but also owes a lot—particularly in the details of the desktop and many utilities—to Windows 95/98. Superficial appearances aside, however, Windows 2000 is also a distinct departure from (or improvement upon) previous versions of Windows. While some of the examples used in this book are similar to examples used in previous versions of Windows, many are new and demonstrate new features, capabilities, or application possibilities...and some have simply changed in response to changes in the operating system. We will talk about a lot of the changes, particularly those that affect application development, but we’ll also be covering some of the background changes as well, which affect us only indirectly. With this said, the following is an expanded outline of the topics and subjects covered in this book.